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Day 5 of the bird feeding programme: The Cath Kidston bird feeder lies broken, like an Erdington pub's toilet door. The fat balls have been claimed by the squirrels. The Magpies run amok, claiming the territory as their own, subjugating the wood pigeons.  An opportunistic Robin swoops down regularly, leaving chaos in its wake. I'm locked in a battle of wills with nature.  There can be only one victor. 

You know what they say: Out with the old (dishbrush), in with the new (dishbrush). Old Faithful has served me well this year: I'll forever hold dear the memory of how we tackled the great burnt-on pasta fiasco together, back in July. Good times. They become like part of the family don't they?  Still, it's time to cross the Rainbow Bridge to the Great Washing Up Bowl In The Sky. Rest In Fairy Max Power, steadfast old chum.  I shall never forget you.

UK firm Charge Holdings are further building on their strategic goal of creating a multi-brand, low-volume integrated automotive group by agreeing a strategic phased merger framework with TVR, and reviving the legendary Blackpool firm's V8 powered Griffith sportscar.  The new generation Griffith, developed and engineered by Gordon Murray and Cosworth, was first unveiled at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed, but following a series of misfires by former video games developer Les Edgar, whose consortium bought the firm in 2013 following a disastrous 9 year stewardship by Russian businessboy Nikolai Smolenski, the car is yet to hit the road. The deal, which will initially see Charge Holdings board members joining TVR’s board, with new share capital issued to Charge Holdings, will be followed by the purchase of existing shares from current TVR shareholders. The boutique sports car brand will become a subsidiary of Charge Holdings, enabling both companies to sh...

In this subversive Kings Heath installation piece, the artist employs vulgar Anglo-Saxon profanity to express disapproval with the party's policies; the playful use of kerning is a knowing nod both to the lack of foresight displayed by, and characteristic of Reform-led councils, and a tacit acknowledgement of the nation's shift to the right. Medium: Sharpie; telecoms cabinet.

Whichever side of the flag debate you're on, can we all just agree this is hilarious? Christmas lights can't go up in Reform-led town because St. George flags on lampposts are a health and safety concern. Irony is alive and well in Kent, as is the law of unintended consequences. I laughed so much, I shared a GB News article. Merry Christmas, everyone.

An historic public house in Birmingham, designed by renowned architects and built before the advent of electricity, has reopened to the public following a £100,000 restoration. The Anchor Digbeth, which has been a fixture of Birmingham’s landscape since 1797, has been painstakingly restored to its former glory by new landlord Peter Connolly. Recognised by Historic England as a Grade II protected heritage site, the magnificent terracotta-fronted building was originally constructed to a design by James and Lister Lea - an architectural firm responsible for some of Birmingham’s most impressive Victorian-era public houses. A mainstay for Birmingham’s Irish community, including being owned by successive generations of the Keane family since the 1970s, The Anchor is located in the city’s Irish Quarter - home to countless generations of Irish emigrants and workers since the 1820s.  Peter Connolly, new custodian of The Anchor Digbeth, said: “It’s a pleasure to finally reopen th...